What happens when you assemble a quartet of tenor saxophone free improvisers? Battle Trance happens. As record label NNA Tapes describes it, Travis LaPlante woke up one morning with the vision that he needed to start a group with three other tenor saxophone players: Matthew Nelson, Jeremy Viner, and Patrick Breiner.

They all agreed and Battle Trance was born. For the composition Palace of Wind, which they will play in its entirety Sunday, February 1st at Emma Bistro, “the rehearsals were much like martial arts training.” More from NNA Tapes:

Intricate sounds were rigorously copied and repeated by the ensemble members until they perfected the techniques. Many hours were spent building the sheer strength required to sustain continuous circular breathing for extended periods. Likewise, a steady focus on physicality was required to repeat rapid note patterns for long periods without sacrificing speed. Palace of Wind is such a demanding composition that there is a high risk of physically burning out before the piece concludes, as once it begins there is no opportunity for rest or even a quick drink of water. There was also extensive training in dissolving the distinct individual identities of the players into the greater collective sound: The band did various long-tone exercises, similar to group meditation, the purpose being to blend together into one sound, so that the origin of the collective sound’s components is completely impossible to discern – even by the members of the ensemble.

Palace of Wind does embrace both the cerebral nature of composition and the visceral act of performance, but immediately locates itself, the musicians and the audience in a purely spiritual space. It is a new kind of music and therefore modern, and yet it’s absolutely primordial, the transformative act of human beings blowing air through tubes and producing something timeless

Travis LaPlante played Noa Noa house a few years ago (in the living room), and I’m including a video of that performance below. Also be sure to check out the Theatre Intangible improv he did with Peter Evans, Craig Schenker, and Jamison Sevits.

The Sunday show is presented by FMRL Arts, the experimental arts company of Chris Davis and Tate Eskew. Also performing are jazz keyboardist Matt Endahl and euphoniumist Cody Carter. More info on the Facebook event page.

Thollem Electric’s Howled Ground – solo electronic piano improvisations from acclaimed keyboardist Thollem, a tireless improvising artist who’s recorded and performed for labels like the revived, revered ESP-Disk and with performers ranging from John Dieterich (Deerhoof), Mike Watt (The MInutemen; The Stooges), and Pauline Oliveros.

Ok folks, here’s another must-see FMRL Arts show. Paul Metzger is a Minneapolis-based guitar, banjo, violin, and anything-with-strings improviser and instrument maker. Hearing him perform on his modified string instruments is, as FMRL Arts’ says on the Facebook event page, “nothing short of sublime.” Tim Kaiser is a Duluth-based instrument maker, circuit bender, and ambient experimental musician. He last passed through Nashville for the 2014 Circuit Benders’ Ball. Paul and Tim are two of the most creative musicians on the scene, and the opportunities to see them together are rare. The only time they played Nashville on the same bill (that I know of) was a 2012 performance at Noa Noa house on Halloween night. That was one of my favorite shows of my life. Don’t miss this one!

Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 at door or $8 in advance at FMRLArts.org. Check out the videos below for good introductions to their work.

Another packed weekend! On Friday, October 10th at 8 p.m. Free Form Friday returns to the Centennial Black Box Theatre. This one features Louisville, Kentucky loop-pedal melodist Cher Von and Nashville jazz improv duo Concurrence. Both have appeared on Theatre Intangible in the past. Check out Cher Von on this episode and Concurrence on this one. Dig Deep Light Show and Devin Lamp will provide the visuals.

Also on Friday, FMRL Arts is presenting An Evening with Lakha Khan, 9 p.m. at Emma Bistro. Lakha Khan performed last year at Nashville’s Downtown Presbyterian Church to an enraptured audience. I was fortunate enough to record the audio to the show, which is now being released by Khan’s label Amarass Records. (UPDATE: I found out the live audio they used for the recording was not the signal from the Marantz field recorder I was operating. It was the audio from a Zoom recorder someone else was operating.) Copies of the recording will be available at the Emma Bistro show.

On Saturday, October 11th, don’t miss the 2014 Nashville Print Crawl from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Attendees grab a poster template from the first printshop they visit and then travel to shops around town to complete the print. It sounds like a ton of fun. Participating printshops include Sawtooth Printhouse, Hatch Show Print, Isle of Printing, Platetone Printmaking, Goldsmith Press, Kangaroo Press, and Grand Palace Silkscreen.

On Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Oz Nashville hosts Bandaloop, a vertical dance troupe. Words don’t do it justice, so watch the Bandaloop video below.